Harrogate Town 4-1 Skelmersdale United: League Two side victorious in FA Cup first round
- Published
Ninth-tier Skelmersdale United were unable to cause a shock in the first round of the FA Cup as they were beaten by League Two side Harrogate Town.
North West Counties Premier League Skelmersdale fell behind in the first minute when Calvin Miller scored after Mark Beck had hit the post.
Beck added a second goal just before half-time with a glancing header.
Jake Lawlor's deflected effort made it 3-0, Aaron Martin headed in a fourth before Danny Mitchley's consolation.
Skelmersdale were the lowest-ranked side left in the FA Cup and had won six matches to reach the first round proper for the first time since 1971.
But they never looked like making club history by advancing into the second round.
Goals at either end of the first half ended it as a contest and Lawlor gained a third when the home defence could not deal with George Thomson's low free-kick.
As Skelmersdale tired, Martin was left unmarked to head in from Josh Falkingham's cross as Harrogate moved into the second round for only the second time ever, after doing likewise in 2012-13.
Kevin Lokko then hit the post for Harrogate, before Skelmersdale's Mitchley scored with a well-taken left-footed volley to give the ninth tier side a late consolation goal in the 89th minute.
Watch 13 first-round ties on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app this weekend. Find out more here.